Although Japan currently trails China and the US in the number of cars produced yearly, JDM cars play a huge role in the global automotive scene. Growing rapidly from the '70s, Japan overtook the US in the '80s and '90s to become the global leader in car production. Within the last few decades, Japanese investments in other countries have been a boost for their auto industries.
Japanese carmakers have become quite adept at developing cars that are stylish, efficient, reliable, and affordable. They are also renowned for their technological innovations - from the use of robotics to the use of electronics for infotainment and engine control. However, every once in a while, they also roll out cars that fail to impress the buying public. Amid bestsellers like the Toyota Corolla, Toyota RAV4, and Mazda Miata, other great Japanese cars sold miserably. Here are 10 of the more spectacular flops from Japan.
10 Nissan 350Z
Debuting as a 2-seater fastback coupe, the 350Z was the fifth generation of Nissan Z-Cars. With a 3.5-liter V6 engine feeding the rear wheels, it delivered a hardcore performance that thrilled gearheads. Furthermore, the 350Z offers an excellent platform for modification into the beast of your dreams.
However, apart from the head-turning good looks and excellent driving dynamics, it is not the safest car around. In a study conducted by the IIHS, the 350Z recorded a driver death rate of 143 per million registrations. With that record, it entered the league of the deadliest cars on US roads.
9 Mazda Eunos Cosmo
From 1967 to 1995, Mazda used the Cosmo as a halo car to showcase its latest technologies. The final generation, the Eunos Cosmo, was built on the then-new JC platform and loaded with the latest electronics.
A choice of 2 twin-turbo rotary engines was offered, the bigger one spinning out 300 hp for a top speed of 158.4 mph. Sadly, the Eunos Cosmo had a terrible thirst for fuel. Built on a unique platform and loaded with advanced tech, the Eunos Cosmo came with a robust starting price, and only 8,875 units were moved in the 6-year production run.
8 Mazda Rotary Pickup
Launched in the 1967 Cosmo Sport, Mazda's rotary engines have provided low-displacement high-revving power for several generations of Mazdas. In 1974, it found its way into the Rotary-Engined Pickup (REPU), a Mazda B-Series truck sold only in North America. The REPU was a powerful truck with a nice interior and a high sticker price.
Unfortunately, alongside the rotary engine's gas-guzzling nature, the 1973 energy crisis had a disastrous effect on sales. Even with a redesign for the 1977 model year, sales continued to dwindle, and Mazda quietly discontinued the world's only Wankel-engined pickup truck.
7 Infiniti Q70
The Infiniti Q70 is a midsize luxury sedan that was developed as an answer to the BMW 5 Series. Built between 2013 and 2019, it came with several powertrain options including a 5.6-liter V8 mill rated at 420 hp. However, none of them was able to attract enough buyers to qualify the Q70 as a sales success.
Alongside the Q70L, the Q30, and the QX30, the Infiniti Q70 was discontinued after the 2019 model year due to poor sales. In fairness to the nameplate's legacy, it was a great car that fell victim to buyers' preference for crossover SUVs.
6 Subaru SVX
Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, the Subaru SVX was noted mostly for its aircraft-inspired glass-to-glass window configuration. Launched in 1991, it was powered by a 3.3-liter flat-6 boxer engine hooked to a 4-speed automatic transmission.
With the futuristic and a top speed of more than 154 mph, Subaru expected to sell 10,000 SVXs yearly in North America. When the SVX was pulled in 1996, only about 14,000 units were sold in the US. Forced to cut prices because of poor sales, Subaru lost a lot of money for every SVX it sold.
5 2018 Lexus LC
Unveiled at the 2016 North American International Auto Show, the Lexus LC is a luxury grand tourer developed to replace the SC. Under the hood, they stuffed a 5-liter V8 hooked to a 10-speed automatic transmission to churn out 471 hp. The LC's 4,400+ pounds weight proved to be too much for the engine and acceleration suffered as a result.
Although it boasts a sleek and advanced design, it couldn't hold its own against European rivals. Despite excellent road manners and the addition of a hybrid version, sales have been nothing but disastrous.
4 Suzuki Samurai
Before it made its way to the US, the Suzuki Samurai had already existed since 1971 as the Suzuki Jimny in Japan. Arriving as a 1986 model, it sported a 1.3-liter 4-cylinder engine with an output of 63 hp and 74 lb-ft of torque.
Thanks to an affordable entry price and stellar off-road capability, the small Suzuki was a day one hit with the American public. A price increase in 1988 and issues of poor build quality dampened sales a bit. The last nail in the coffin was the car's fondness for rolling over in turns.
3 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
Introduced as a 2018 model at the Geneva Motor Show in 2017, the Eclipse Cross competes in the compact crossover SUV segment. Apart from an affordable price tag and great warranty coverage, it falls short of the competition in almost every other area.
The outmoded and unattractive interior is filled with too many hard plastics. It also trails behind most of the competition in terms of cargo space. Moreover, if you are looking for a crossover that will raise your pulse rate, the Eclipse Cross is not for you.
2 Mitsubishi Mirage
The two objectives Mitsubishi had in mind when developing the Mirage were affordability and high efficiency. They went to great lengths to make the Mirage not just as light as possible, but also aerodynamically superior to rivals. Motivation comes from a 1.2-liter I-3 engine rated at 77 hp and 74 lb-ft of torque.
For a modern car, this is downright shameful. In addition to the unexciting acceleration, the Mirage also disappoints in terms of handling and ride quality. Boasting a fatal accident rate of 10.2 cars per billion vehicle miles traveled, the Mirage became the deadliest 2013-2017 car.
1 Mitsubishi Orochi
Before it entered production as a 2007 model, the Orochi started life as a 2001 concept car. It is named after a mythical 8-headed dragon and is categorized as a "Fashion-SuperCar" by the manufacturer. Although the interior is nicely upholstered in leather, it looks boring when compared to the attention-grabbing exterior.
Power is supplied by a 3.3-liter V6 engine that fails to deliver performance that complements the Orochi's wild design. With a 0-60 mph time of 6.7 seconds and a top speed of 111 mph, the Orochi's performance never really impressed anyone.